KIEV, Feb. 21 – German doctors who last week examined Ukraine’s jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko on Tuesday distanced themselves from media “speculation” over her health, adding more information was needed to diagnose her illness.

The statement, released by Charite, a Berlin-based medical center, came after Tymoshenko’s legal defense team and government officials publicly argued over likely illness and treatment options.

“There is no basis for the speculations in the Ukrainian press about the health of Ms. Tymoshenko” following the examination by Prof. Dr. Karl Max Einhaupl and Prof. Dr. Norbert Haas, the statement, in German language, said.

“Both doctors agree that such speculation, in respect to medical confidentiality, cannot continue,” the statement said. “They appeal to all sides to make sure the patient’s health is at the center of attention.”

The issue quickly turned political in Ukraine as Tymoshenko’s defense team had immediately pushed for medical treatment outside the prison. Also, Tymoshenko’s health problems may, under certain conditions, play a role in her release from the prison, analysts said.

President Viktor Yanukovych is under pressure from European and U.S. politicians to release Tymoshenko, his main political rival, and allow her to lead her party for parliamentary elections in October.

Tymoshenko, a former prime minister, was sentenced in October 2011 to seven years in prison for abusing power while ordering to sign in January 2009 a controversial 10-year natural gas agreement with Russia.

Tymoshenko, who was under arrest since August 5, had for months complained about severe back pain, and said she did not trust the government-appointed doctors to examine and treat her in prison.

Last week the Foreign Ministry and prison authorities, yielding to pressure from foreign governments, allowed two German and three Canadian doctors to visit Tymoshenko in the prison for examination.

But shortly after the examination on Feb. 13, Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, the Tymoshenko team and the prison authorities argued over what the doctors had found, and what treatment must be selected.

Tymoshenko’s daughter, Eugenia, said her mother had a hernia, and any delay with the treatment may require a surgery.

Government-appointed doctors first denied that Tymoshenko had serious health problems, but on Monday the prison authorities had suddenly agreed to let Tymoshenko have surgery outside the prison if the doctors recommend doing so.

But the German doctors, who left a “short written preliminary report” after the examination, said they will need more information and perhaps more tests to determine exactly the illness.

“Only after these measures there will be a final report with recommendations on the required extensive treatment,” Charite said in the statement. (tl/ez)